Scope
Reference
OUPA10627
Description
Service development capacity, in the form of software development and associated activities, to support the CORE project:
CORE hosts the world's largest collection of open access research outputs, which are used and referenced by people globally, including researchers, libraries, software developers, funders.
Contract 1
Supplier
Contract value
- £450,000 excluding VAT
- £540,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
7 August 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 8 August 2025 to 31 July 2026
- 11 months, 24 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72230000 - Custom software development services
Contract locations
- UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Single supplier - technical reasons
The Open University (OU) intends to award a one (1) year agreement to Qubit Labs to provide software development and associated activities, to support the CORE OU project.
The CORE code base contains more than 250k lines of code Qubit personnel have the required training, expertise and specialist knowledge to operate and develop the CORE infrastructure. The cost and time to upskill another company to the level required precludes the award of the contract to a company other than Qubit.
Supplier
Qubit Labs OÜ
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PJDT-6796-PBTZ
Sepapaja, 6
Tallinn
15551
Estonia
Email: viktor.sokolov@qubit-labs.com
Website: https://qubit-labs.com/
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY
- Charity Commission (England and Wales): RC000391
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYNW-6296-ZJQQ
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
United Kingdom
Email: finance-tenders@open.ac.uk
Region: UKJ12 - Milton Keynes
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government